Can labelling machine



April 20, 1965 M. DEBRAY CAN LABELLING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/Vf/VI'OK Maurice DEBRA Y M. DEBRAY' CAN LABELLING MACHINE April 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1960 IIYENTOR p Y AR mm [1 0 I m w h United States Patent 3,179,548 CAN LABELLING MACHINE Maurice Debray, 111 Salaherry St, Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 22,907 13 Claims. (Cl. 156-364) This invention pertains to a can labelling machine and more particularly to a mechanism used in such a machine for elevating the labels in position for application on a can.

One type of such mechanisms presently in use is manual in operation in this that the level at the top of the label stack has to constantly be corrected in order to always have labels available for application onto a passing can.

Other mechanisms are of the compensating type. In this type, after a certain number of containers have been properly labelled and the pile of labels has diminished so that the top thereof has reached a predetermined low level, the next container will actuate a lever which will raise the label platform and hence the label pile so as to position a certain number thereof in readiness for subsequent labelling operations. The operation of the label platform is therefore intermittent.

This intermittent raising of the label platform requires two other actuating mechanisms other than the lever device previously mentioned. A second mechanism is necessary so as to lower the platform to permit insertion of a new pile of labels, whenever the previous one is exhausted. Finally, a third mechanism must also be provided to ascertain that the containers will go through the labelling operation regardless of the level of the top label on the pile.

These three mechanisms combine to give a complex and expensive assembly; the delicate adjustment of which depends, in part, on the diameter of the containers. Also, when the label platform has just been raised and the top label is at a maximum height, the containers must jump to reach it with subsequent misalignment of the label on the container. Worse still, the glue on the container will often entrain two or more labels by spreading on the edges thereof in jumping to reach the top label. Similarly, when the top label is at the minimum height, the pressure of the container will also be at a minimum and often the label will not stick to it. This latter inconvenience gets worse if the container is cold and the glue partly solidified before the label is applied.

Because of these two extreme levels, the operator will usually adjust the elevating mechanism so as to obtain as little level variation as possible, which means that the elevating mechanism is almost continuously operated with subsequent rapid wear thereof. It is thereof an object of the instant invention to obviate these inconveniences by providing a labelling machine, having the distinct features of the mechanisms mentioned above, still being simple in structure.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of the aforesaid type, requiring no adjustment regardless of the thickness of the labels, or the diameter of the containers.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an elevating mechanism that will keep the level of the top label constant; adjusting itself for each labelling operation.

These objects are attained by the provision of an elevating platform which is mounted at a point along rails on which cans are in rolling motion. Elevating means are constantly urging this platform toward the rails. A pile of labels is placed on that platform and the inven tion resides in a mechanism where said constantly urging means is stopped by a brake applying means motioned by a releasing device actuated at each passing when said Patented Apr. 20, 1965 ice can is between a pressure device and the rails over the topmost label of the pile; said pressure device flooring one by one each passing can on the rails.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reading the following description given in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation in view of the labelling machine incorporating the elevating mechanism of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the machine on the driving motor side.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a close-up sectional and elevational view of the elevating platform.

FIG. 5 is a close-up top view of the brake-lever releasing mechanism.

The machine is generally made up of a frame having upright posts 1 cross-connected by means of braces 2 and 3 and by rails 5. Rails 5 act as a can runway. Upper braces 3 extend away from the frame and support pulleys 7, one of which is driven by motor 9. Set in longitudinal movement by pulleys 7 is a V-belt 11, held. relatively tight therebetween, which serves as friction means for rolling the cans onto the can runway 5. The pulleys, belt and upper braces assembly can be moved in a vertical direction by mounting into the various apertures 13 of posts 1 to vary the distance between the V-belt and the fixed rails or runway 5, adapted to support cans 15 for rolling displacement thereon.

The casing 19 of the elevator assembly 17 is mounted directly between braces 2 and rails 5 of the runway. This casing 19 holds an elevator platform 21 slidable therein and normally carrying a stack of labels. 23 (FIG. 4). This platform 21 is carried by a vertical shaft 25 slidahly guided into sleeve 27. Finally a sprocket wheel 29 is rotatably mounted at the lower extremity of shaft 25.

Forwardly of the elevator assembly 17 and preferably on the side first covered by the cams, and held vertically between rails 5 and braces 2, stand risers 31 at the center of which is located a second sprocket wheel 33 mounted on a shaft 35 journaled in suitable bearings on the risers 31. Also mounted on shaft 35 and integrally rotatable with sprocket wheel 33 is an arrester wheel 37. This arrester wheel may be provided, if desired, with a handle 38 for manually lowering the platform 21 in order to insent a fresh pile of labels.

A chain 39 successively engages sprocket wheels 29 and 33, being tied at one end 41 to braces 2, and at the other end 4-3 to a tension means such as spring 45 secured to posts 1. The end connections 41 and 47 may be made through the intermediary of pins extending between two consecutive structural members of the frame. Also, for greater convenience spring 45 may be made adjustable as to strength by any known means.

The tension and strength of spring 45 is such that under normal label load conditions, the shaft 25, and consequently the label platform 21 and labels 23, are constantly urged upwardly.

However, this upward movement is prevented by the provision of a friction applying means acting on arrester wheel 37 and releasably actuated by the movement of each can when or at a moment when at least one can is between the sheave 59, or any other type of pressure device acting as a part of the levelling mean of the feeder of labels, and the topmost label of the pile.

This friction applying means is composed of a brakelever 49, pivotally mounted at one end 50 onto braces 2, and equipped near that end with a brake-shoe 51 adjustable thereon by means of a nut-and-bolt arrangement 53 in order to maintain the lever 4 in a perfectly vertical position when the brake-shoe 51 rests against the surface of arrester wheel 37.

The other end of brake-lever 49 extends upwardly past upper braces 3 so as to be available regardless of the height at which braces 3 are set. As shown better in FIG. 1, brake-shoe 51 is adapted to press against the peripheral edge of arrester wheel 37: the pressure therebetween being provided by means of return spring 55 adjustable as to strength by any known means, or any other means suitable to cause the application of the desired pressure on that arrester wheel 3-7 or on the free movable sheave 59 to stop the action of the elevating means when the brake applying mean is released by a passing can.

Any known types of brake applying means including the types stopping only the elevating motion of the platform, could be used with the present feeder of labels.

Under labellingconditions, chain 39 and spring 45 are held under tension and rotation of wheel 37 is prevented by pressure applied to arrester wheel 37 by shoe 51; the magnitude of said pressure depending on the strength of adjustable spring 55. The purpose of the invention is to allow a constant adjustment of the stack of labels as it diminishes in size and the top label consequently drops so that, as one can picks up one or several labels and at each can or intermittently, the platform is raised to bring the next label at a predetermined level suitable for labelling. This is done automatically.

For this purpose, a releasing device 57, shown clearly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 is provided. It comprises a sheave 59 sitting on V-belt 11 and rotatably held between lever arms 61, rigidly fixed to a transverse bar 63 journaled in suitable bearing 65 mounted on braces 3. This bar 63 terminates at one end into a crank arm 67. The handle portion 69 of which rests against one lateral face of brake-lever 49 when the sheave 59 is actuated by passing cans. Finally a return spring '71 has two radially extending projections 73 bent outwardly at their ends, one adapted to sit on one brace 3, whereas the other rests on one lever arm 61 with suflicient pressure to give belt 11 a gentle sag and ensure that the said belt 11 is always under a slight tension. The sheave 59 is also elfective in applying a desirable pressure between the V-belt 11 and the can thereby creating enough frictional contact between the two for rolling the cans on the rails and pressing them on the labels to stop the action of the elevating means when the brake applying means is released.

The sheave 59 with the spring 71 acts also as a part of the friction belt 11 used for rolling the cans through the machine and the handle portion 6% is spaced from the lateral face of the brake-lever 49, when there is no can between the sheave 59 and the rails 5. The levelling means of the present feeder of labels comprises the sheave 59 with the spring 55 and the part of the rails 5 in front of the sheave 59. The nut-and-bolt arrangement 53 is used for setting the spacement between the sheave 59 and the mile; 5. Any other known means between the bar 63 and the adjustable crank arm 67; or extendible lever arms 61 could also be used for setting the spacement between the sheave59 and the rails 5.

The runway, being the part of the rails in front of the pressure device, is a part of the levelling means of the present feeder. The rails, being not in front of the pressure device, like in the drawings FIG. 1, which is the sheave 59; are not a part of the present invention and could be removed like the paste or adhesive distributor 77 which is not also a part of the present feeder.

The sheave 59 can be located at any place at the opposite side of a passing can in regard to the topmost label of the pile. The diameter of the sheave 59 can be of any size to act on a part or on the whole surface of the labels.

When the sheave 59 operates as the pressure device of the levelling means and also as the sensing end of the releasing device, three cases must be considered.

First; only one can at a time can be located between the sheave 59 and the rails 5. In that case, the brake applying means will be released at each passing can to alternatively stop and permit the elevating motion of the platform. The point where the levelling operation is done over the pile do not vary but is slightly moving.

Second; sometimes or at a moment of the operation of the feeder of labels, the brake applying means will be released intermittently to permit the elevating motion of the platform as long as at least one can is actuating the releasing device. The point where the levelling operation is done over the pile will be varying and moving intermittently.

Third; there is continuously a can between the sheave 59 and the rails 5. In that case, the brake applying means will be constantly released to constantly permit the elevating motion of the platform. The point where the levelling operation is done over the pile is constantly moving and it is clear that the brake applying means and the releasing device could be removed completely from the feeder.

Now, when the pressure device of the levelling means and the sensing end of the releasing device are two separated mechanisms; the sensing end of the releasing device can be located at any place of the feeder of labels as far as said releasing device will be actuated when or at a moment when at least one can is between the pressure device of the levelling means and the rails.

When the releasing device is actuated at a moment when more than one can is between the pressure device of the levelling means and the rails, the can(s) which actuate the releasing device is/ are not necessarily the one which level the topmost label of the pile. The point over the topmost label of the pile where the levelling operation is done is also moving but can be near fixed.

When the weight of the cans is in the case, it can happen that the upward pressure of the elevating means would be smaller than the weight of one can; in that case or in any similar cases, as far as at least one can is floored on the rails over the pile to level the topmost label of the pile when said pile is urged in the direction of said floored passing can, the conditions for the good operation of my feeder of labels are performed because there are means for urging the pile of labels and means for levelling the topmost label.

The friction belt 11 illustrated in the drawing (FIG. 1) is not a part of my invention. A friction belt for rolling the cans through a labeling machine is not a levelling mean nor a device to motion the feeder of labels and the friction belt must not injure the operation of said feeder. The sheave 59 with spring 71 both acting as a part of the friction belt could be located in any quantity and at any place on the friction belt 11 to act at any time and this is evidently not my invention. So the downward pressure of the spring(s) 71 on the sheave(s) 59 must be smaller than the upward pressure of the elevating means.

The downward pressure of the sheave 59 with spring 55, acting as a part of the levelling means of my feeder, being greater than the one of the friction belt; my pressure device is an obstacle to the rolling motion of the passing cans in regard to the friction belt. The work done by the pressure device is to floor the passing cans on the rails and this by any known means, tension or compression springs, weights etc.

The sensing end of the releasing device can work with, against or have no influence on the downward pressure of the pressure device depending on which side of the cans it is located; but in any case, the releasing device must not injure the operation of the pressure device. The pressure device must floor the passing cans on the rails and the releasing device must release the brake applying means.

When working against the pressure device, like when located by the sides of the pile, the upward pressure of the sensing end of the releasing device must be as low as possible for the passing cans can be floored on the rails. When working with or in the same direction as the pressure device, like when located by the side of the pressure device, the downward pressure of the sensing end of the releasing device could be greater than the downward pressure of the pressure device like, for example, if a high motive traction on the cans was useful at a moment of the operation of the levelling means or at a point over the pile of labels. Another example would be if the pressure device is a free turning means when the sensing end is a driving means.

Concerning the elevating means, a spring or any other known means could constantly urge upwardly the platform and the arrester wheel 37 with chain 39 stop only the elevating motion of the platform. The platform can be constantly urged upwardly or intermittently or at each passing can.

The distance between belt 11 and bottom of rails 5 or the runway, is slightly smaller than the diameter of a can to be labelled so that as the belt moves, so does the can 15, by friction action therebet'ween.

Near one end of rails 5, there is provided an adhesive container well known in the art, which provides each can with a series of spots of adhesive extending lengthwise of the can. The distance between this container 75 and the leading margin of the labels is equal to the circumference of a can, so that after adhesive has been applied thereto, it moves one complete circumference before it reaches the edges of the labels.

Known also in the art and here shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, is an adhesive distributor 77 for the other end of the labels, fed by means of flexible tubing 83 and pump 79 from a container 81. This distributor 77 is loosely held on top of the label pile 23. The upper surface of platform 21 is inclined downwardly toward the delivery end of the machine, so that while the can is rolling over rails, the label will wrap around the can until it reaches a point where it pulls the pasted trailing end of the label from beneath the distributor 77.

To prevent more than one label coming off the pile, a further part of the invention considers the use of a rod 89 (FIG. 4), having an enlarged head 82, preferably conical in shape, and extending into aligned apertures 88 in the labels. This aperture is larger than the diameter of the rod but smaller than the head thereof, so that a slight pulling effort is necessary to free the labels. As the can reaches the edge of the top label, the latter sticks to it and is entrained in the further rolling movement of the can. The adhesive will allow the top label to pull through the rod head 82 but will not permit other labels to follow suit.

The machine operates as follows:

Cans are fed onto runway 5 by means of any known feeding means, and roll over container 75 where adhesive is spot-pasted thereon. The rolling motion produced by moving belt 11 onto the periphery of can 15 brings it towards the casing 19. As the can reaches point marked A in FIG. 1, it will lift sheave 59 upwardly, as indicated by the arrow, and lever arms 61 will subsequently pivot around transverse bar 63. This transverse bar 63, which is integrally fixed to lever arms 61, will rotate in a counterclockwise direction and bring crank arm 67 forwardly as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1. This crank arm movement will pull the brake lever 49 rearwardly towards the casing 19.

The releasing of brake-shoe 51 from arrester wheel 37 will allow rotation thereof and consequent raising of label platform 21 until the top label coils of the can 15 which is at that moment floored on the rails by the sheave 59 pressing the can 15 under the action of the spring 55.

What I claim:

1. A cylindrical container labelling machine comprising: a runway along which cylindrical containers may roll, a label carrying platform mounted at a point along said runway having means for supporting a pile of labels thereon, elevating means constantly urging said platform toward said runway; an arrester wheel rotatable as said elevating means operate, friction applying means including a reciprocating motion lever applying pressure on said arrester wheel to prevent operation of said elevating means, a releasing mechanism actuated by each passing cylindrical container when the said container is over the top most label of the pile to release said friction applying means from said wheel to permit operation of said elevating means.

2. A cylindrical container labelling machine comprising: a runway along which the cylindrical containers may roll, a label carrying platform for supporting a pile of labels thereon mounted at a point along said runway, elevating means constantly urging said platform and the labels thereon toward said runway, an arrester wheel rotatable as said elevating means operate; friction applying means including a reciprocating motion lever, bearing against said arrester wheel to prevent operation of said elevating means, releasing mechanism actuated by each passing cylindrical container when it is immediately above the leading edge of the top most label of said pile of labels to release said friction applying means from said arrester wheel to permit operation of said elevating means.

3. A cylindrical container labelling machine comprising: a runway, a moving belt in substantially parallel relationship with said runway, cylindrical containers between said belt and runway and in rolling motion by contact with said belt, a label carrying platform for supporting a pile of labels thereon mounted at a point along said runway, elevating means constantly urging said platform toward said runway, an arrester wheel rotatable as said elevating means is operating, a reciprocating motion lever having a friction shoe resiliently held against said arrester wheel to prevent operation of said elevating means, a freely movable sheave on said belt on the side thereof away from said runway and immediately above the topmost label of said pile, linkage mechanism between said sheave and said reciprocating motion lever releasing said friction shoe from said arrester wheel as said cylindrical container passes between said sheave and said topmost label.

4. A cylindrical container labelling machine comprising: a frame, a cylindrical container runway thereon, means to drive said containers, a label carrying platform for supporting a pile of labels thereon mounted at a point on said runway, elevating means constantly urging said platform and the labels thereon toward said runway, an arrester wheel in combination with said elevating means and rotatable when said elevating means operates, a friction lever pivotally mounted at one end to said frame and having a friction shoe in contact with said wheel, a spring resiliently holding said shoe against said wheel to prevent rotation thereof; releasing means operable by each of said containers as it moves along said runway immediately over the leading edge of said top label acting on said lever to move said friction means out of engagement with said arrester wheel and permit operation of said elevating means.

5. A machine as in claim 4, wherein said means to drive said containers is a continuously moving belt in constant contact with said containers and wherein said releasing means comprises a sheave resting on said belt at a point immediately opposite the leading edge of said top label and movable by each container passing therebetween, leverage mechanism between said sheave and said friction lever to pull said lever and said shoe away from said wheel when said sheave is moved by a passing container.

6. A can labelling machine as in claim 3, wherein the sheave is immediately above the leading edge of the topmost label of said pile.

7. A cylindrical container labelling machine comprising a runway on which cylindrical containers may roll; a label carrying platform for supporting a pile of labels thereon mounted at a point along said runway, elevating means constantly urging said platform toward said runway; a brake applying means stopping the action of the elevating means; means for rolling said cylindrical containers over the top most label of the pile; a pressure device at the opposite side of, a cylindrical container in regard to the top most label, said pressure device flooring each passing cylindrical container on the said runway; at releasing device actuated by passing cylindrical containers when a container is between the top most label and the pressure device to release said brake applying means to permit operation of the elevating means until the top most label has been applied to said cylindrical container.

8. A cylindrical container labelling machine as in claim 7, wherein said pressure device is a free turning wheel pressed by a spring.

9. A cylindrical container labelling machine as in claim 8 wherein said free turning wheel becomes a driving wheel rolling and flooring said cylindrical containers on said runway over the top most label of the pile.

10. A cylindrical container labelling machine comprising a runway on which cylindrical containers may roll; a label carrying platform for supporting a pile of labels thereon mounted at a point along said runway, elevating means constantly urging said platform toward said runway; a brake applying means stopping the action of the elevating means; a pressure device at the opposite side of a cylindrical container in regard to the top most label, said pressure device flooring each passing cylindrical container on the said runway, said pressure device being a means for rolling said cylindrical containers over the top most label of the pile; a releasing device actuated by each passing cylindrical container when the said container is between the top most label and the pressure device to release said brake applying means to permit operation of the elevating means until the top most label has been applied to said cylindrical container.

11. A container labelling machine comprising a label carrying platform for supporting a pile of labels thereon; means for travelling said containers over to the top most label of the pile; elevating means constantly urging said platform upwardly; a brake applying means stopping the action of the elevating means; a releasing device at the opposite side of a container in regard to the top most label, said releasing device being actuated by the passing containers to release said brake applying means to permit operation of said elevating means.

12. A container labelling machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said releasing device has a free turning wheel in contact with the passing containers.

13. A container labelling machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein said free turning wheel is a driving means for travelling the containers.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,744 10/21 Lafata 156-451 1,869,065 7/32 Kyler 156-364 2,039,825 5/36 Monal 216--58 2,079,321 5/37 Kyler 156-453 2,391,125 12/45 Carpenter 216-51 X 2,391,694 12/45 Everett l56364 2,626,075 1/53 Hesson 156363 2,722,333 11/55 Hesson 156--453 2,868,403 1/59 Mattingly et al l56453 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

HAROLD ANSHER, CARL F. KRAFFT, GEO. I.

NINAS, In, Examiners. 

1. A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER LABELLING MACHINE COMPRISING: A RUNWAY ALONG WHICH CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS MAY ROLL, A LABEL CARRYING PLATFORM MOUNTED AT A POINT ALONG SAID RUNWAY HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PILE OF LABELS THEREON, ELEVATING MEANS CONSTANTLY URGIN SAID PLATFORM TOWARD SAID RUNWAY; AN ARRESTER WHEEL ROTATABLE AS SAID ELEVATING MEANS OPERATE, FRICTION APPLYING MEANS INCLUDING A RECIPROCATING MOTION LEVER APPLYING PRESSURE ON SAID ARRESTER WHEEL TO PREVENT OPERATION OF SAID ELEVATING MEANS, A RELEASING MECHANISM ACTUATED BY EACH PASSING CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER WHEN THE SAID CONTAINER IS OVER THE TOP MOST LABEL OF THE PILE TO RELEASE SAID FRICTION APPLYING MEANS FROM SAID WHEEL TO PERMIT OPERATION OF SADI ELEVATING MEANS. 